grundig: knobs for Grundig RF 440

Hello,

Would anyone have a set of knobs for the Grundig RF 440?

Found a good working model, but it's missing the two front knobs.

Regards,

Jeff

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In addition to the knobs (drehknopf)...

Also need information about the dial lamp type, and dial lamp holders.

My Grundig RF 440 is missing one dial lamp "holder" (or "clip"), and both lamps (see photos).

What is the model number of the correct style lamp? Is the type 37 lamp correct (14 V, 0.09 A)?

The back panel says, "12-15 V 30 mA."

The schematic says, "12 - 15 V 0.1 A."

It appears the lamp style is push-in (not bayonet or screw). Please confirm!

Would anyone have a spare lamp holder from a non-working radio?

I see many good, non-working "parts radios" on ebay.de, but most don't ship overseas.

Suggestions appreciated.

• Grundig RF 440 missing dial lamp socket (175 KB)
• Grundig RF 440 missing dial lamp (155 KB)

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Most likely, the dial lamps are of the "Wedge" type, like the lamps used in instrument panels of automobiles. The most common type is 12 V 1,2 W and is designated W1.2W , but they are available with other power ratings too.

A spare lamp holder can probably be found in any scrapped car (particularly of european brand) from 70's or 80's.

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Imho the holder is called T5 and should be readily available

Good luck

P.S.

Jeff, I saw on your hompage, you own a W124. It has the same bulbs in the ventilation knobs in the dashboard.
;-)

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Hello Torbjörn, and Marc!

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Marc - I found a 10-pack of T5 12V 3W wedge lamps so I will have some spares for the W124 when the time comes. :-)

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Jeff

3 Watt are way too much for the 124's dashboard lighting (behind the knobs), the plastic would degrade over time! Even 1.2 Watt, which is at least in europe common, are too hot. The required value is 0.5 Watt (type W0.5W).
I have a local supplier who has 14V 40mA bulbs I used in my S124' dashboard.

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Hello Marc,

Back to the radio chatter!

The Grundig back panel says, "12-15 V 30 mA"
The Grundig schematic says, "12-15 V 0.1 A"

Will the 3W, 12V, T5 bulbs be too much (hot) for the Grundig dial plastic? It looks like one side may have over-heated (see photo Grundig RF 440 missing dial lamp socket).

I am unfamiliar with the "W0.5W" nomenclature. Are your bulbs the "wedge" style, or the tiny "grain if wheat" style with only two wire leads? Does your supplier ship to US? :D

I found an eBay listing for Grundig RF 440 lamps from Germany, and he ships to USA, but there are no specifications on the bulbs, so I can't verify if they are correct (see eBay item number:115113798834)

Thanks,
Jeff

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Hi Jeff

As Torbjörn already pointed out, the Wn.nW designation (W3W, W1.2W or W0.5W are of the Wedge type.

The local supplier (www griederbauteile.ch) ships to USA. I would do it for you, too.
In my opinion these bulbs should be available in the us.

In your Radio you can see what too much power can do after time. Consider the radio has been designed for a lifetime of 12 years, guarantee was gone after 12 Months - nobody will complaint about the melted plastic after such a long time. But the missing socket lets me guess that someone just mounted a too strong bulb.

An explanation for the different power indications may be: The schematic is for the chassis RC440 which was used in several models. Probably Grundig had different lighting specifications according to the individual model. 

Other sulutions might be similar to this: 

or this

Cheers
Marc

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Hello Marc,

• Truly appreciate the link!
• For whatever reason, these bulb values seem hard to find here. 
• Discovered that Grieder Elektronik also sells the wedge sockets.
• I had never seen the "Wn.nW" designation before, so need make a note of it.
• That LED lamp looks old-school, or like a home-brew job.
• Send me a private email with your S124?

Jeff

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Hello Jeff,

I have downloaded the spare parts list for the model for you. The lights are 12V / 0.03 A. See picture.

Regards WB.

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Hi Wolfgang,

That's quite helpful!

Thank you,

Jeff

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See photos.

I found some suitable wedge lamps in my spare parts box.

Still looking for original style tuning, and volume knobs. I used some knobs from another Grundig (which look good), but would prefer the original style.

Also needed: one wedge base lamp socket - specially designed to clip to the inside of the body. My radio only has one socket. The one on the pilot lamp side is missing. There are other style (modern) wedge sockets readily available, but I would like to be able to easily slide it in and out when changing the bulb.

Does anyone have a donor radio to yield these hard to find items? The vendors of non-working examples on eBay.de don't ship overseas.

Did other Grundig radios from this era (1970s) use the same (clip style) wedge base lamp socket? Maybe those radios were exported in larger numbers (to the USA) than the model RF 440, and I could find a donor radio on this side of the ocean.

On the plus side, it sounds great on "M", and "U", but "L" is quiet except for some airport beacons, etc.

• Grundig RF 440 wedge base lamp socket reference (907 KB)
• Grundig RF 440 need one wedge base lamp socket and two OEM knobs (125 KB)

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I think most european-made Grundig table radios and hi-fi equipment from the mid 70's use the same type of dial lamps and holders. Possibly also those clock radios that are equipped with dial light.

I've had a RF 420 which i'm certain uses those wedge lamps. I remember that one of the lampholders was defective in that set, but im not sure how i repaired it.

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